Bay, Ruth – Obituary

Ruth Bay, 94, of Hilgard died at a local care facility Sunday, Feb. 9, 1997.

A funeral service will begin at 11 a.m. Thursday at Summerville Chapel.

Friends may call from 3 to 6 p.m. Wednesday at Payne Family Mortuary. Mrs. Bay was born on the family farm near Summerville to Orange and Ella Nora Vandermulen on July 10, 1902.

She married Guy Bay on Oct. 10, 1920. Mrs. Bay and her husband worked as cowboys for most of their younger lives.

The Bays settled in Hilgard, where Mrs. Bay carried mail on the Star Route to Starkey for 23 years. Mrs. Bay loved animals wild or tame and could always find room for one more stray cat, family members said.

Mrs. Bay is survived by her daughters, Donna Deesen of Portland and Roberta Spencer of La Grande; four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Her husband, one son, one daughter and one grandson died earlier.

Memorial donations in lieu of flowers may be sent to Blue Mountain Humane Association Inc., P.O. Box 3058, La Grande.